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Women’s basketball team to play for CAA championship

7:33 p.m., March 11, 2005--The University of Delaware women’s basketball team will play for the Colonial Athletic Association championship, and with it a bid to the NCAA tournament, at noon, Saturday, at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va.

The top-seeded Fightin’ Blue Hens advanced to the CAA championship game by defeating a spirited James Madison University squad 62-57 in the conference tournament semifinals Friday evening.

For the finals on Saturday, the Hens will face Old Dominion University for the third time this season. Old Dominion won Friday night's game over Drexel University 64-63.

Against James Madison, the Hens fell behind early in the first half and trailed 36-30 at the break. The tenacious Dukes were still up 57-51 with just 5:46 left in the game when the Hens clamped down and went on an 11-0 run to earn the victory.

UD sophomore guard Tyresa Smith got things going by hitting a free throw, then freshman guard Melissa Czorniewy hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 57-54 with 4:19 to go.

Senior forwards Tiffany Young and Tiara Malcom, the CAA Player of the Year, then hit a pair of lay-ups to give UD a slim 58-57 lead with 3:21 left.

The teams traded misses until Young put in another lay-up to give the Hens a 60-57 lead with 1:19 left. The Hens scored their final two points on a pair of free throws by Smith, and senior guard Julie Sailer ended the game with a steal.

Leading UD were Malcom, who had 22 points and eight rebounds, and Young, who had 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Czorniewy came off the bench to score nine points and sophomore point guard Alena Koshansky had six, hitting a pair of three-point baskets.

With the victory, the Hens improved 25-4. Only UD Head Coach Tina Martin’s 2000-01 America East Conference championship team has had more wins in Hen history, that team going 26-5 and earning a berth in the NCAA tournament.

Article by Neil Thomas

Editor's note: This article was updated at 10:50 p.m., March 11.

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